Tokyo rubber futures flat

Key Tokyo rubber futures were little changed on Friday in thin trade with investors nervous over the eurozone debt crisis and steering clear of risk assets. The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for June delivery settled down 0.2 yen at 267.9 yen per kg.
The most active Shanghai rubber contract for May delivery closed at 24,610 yuan ($3,900) per tonne, down from 24,420 yuan on Thursday. "The market is dull, with investors staying away from risk assets," said Takashi Ono, an analyst at trading house Dai-Ichi Shohin. But higher oil prices and a seasonal decline in supply may prompt investors to return to the market toward March, he said.